By invitation of the “International Peace Initiative for Syria”, Syrian personalities – politicians, jurists and activists of the civil society – reflecting diverse political streams from different Syrian regions and constituents came together to deliberate on a set of constitutional principles. The conference aimed to be a contribution to the endeavor of drafting the constitution for a future Syria in an effort to achieve a consensus between the different sectors of the Syrian society.

The participants of the conference agreed on the following recommendations, which reflect their points of view:

Syria is a democratic non-sectarian State, built on the principles of full and equal citizenship as well as on political pluralism and decentralization, thus distributing power between the center and other localities within the unity of the Syrian territory.

The Syrian State commits to maintain itself completely neutral towards all religions and ethnicities. Furthermore, the State respects all faiths and does not discriminate citizens, women and men, for reasons of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, confession, faith, wealth or status.

To establish a separation of legislative, executive and judicial power and to guarantee the independence of the judiciary system.

All citizens, women and men, have the right to assume and hold public office and posts, based on standards of qualification.

The Syrian people are ethnically, religiously[1] and culturally diverse, thus living in harmony and working for common interest.

The constitution guarantees equal national rights for all ethnical components reflecting the spectrum of the Syrian people[2] according to international conventions and agreements.

The freedom of the Syrian people should be safeguarded in accordance with the International Laws of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; in addition to all other respective international treaties.

The constitution guarantees women’s rights to full and equal citizenship. The State commits itself to enable women to participate in the public political, economic and social life. Furthermore, the State commits to promoting women to decision-making positions. Women will be represented in all appointed and elected bodies by a ratio from at least 30% until equity. The State also guarantees women the right to convey their citizenship to their husbands and children, in addition to safeguarding the rights of children according to international conventions.

[1] Religious diversity in Syria refers to the following religions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Yezidism.[2] Ethnical components of the Syrian society refer to Arabs, Kurds, Syriac Assyrians as well as Syrian Turkmens, Armenians and Circassians.

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